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Fenrick’s laugh was loud and harsh. “‘Neutral.’ Hardly. Greyhart never takes his eyes off her. What’s your part in all this, Greyhart, or did you forget you have no claim to her at all?”

“Here we go again—talking about me as if I’m a good to be sold or traded,” I huffed.

“I’m just keeping her safe from your lot.” Revel motioned toward the pack of wolves lingering in the background. A few had transformed back to men. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to end up in the Tribunal Vault for disobeying the TOS.”

Grainier shook his head. “Those stupid old men. I’ll make them see that I’m the right choice.” He turned and waved imperiously at his guards. They headed through the trees and out of sight. Fenrick did the same.

Revel and I waited patiently for them to be out of sight, then he returned to the passage for the sacks of sunflowers. He emerged holding all of them and whistled. The donkeys came trotting obediently back. He tossed the sacks into the back of the wagon. Before I could climb up on my own, his hands circled my waist. He lifted me and held me against him, my feet dangling for a few seconds before placing me on the wagon.

“Thank goodness the Sorcerers added in the last part about letting you escort me home to Norvale.”

The wagon shifted side to side as he climbed aboard. “Might have added that part on my own.”

I smiled over at him. “Sneaky devil.”

Revel flicked the reins, and we were off.

“Guess we won’t have to worry about moss serpents on the way back.” I sat back with a satisfied smile.

“I guess not. That was pretty impressive. Thought a few of Fenrick’s buddies were going to turn white with fright. How’d you do it?”

“I wish I could tell you I had some part in it, but nope. They just showed up.”

Revel nodded. “I’ve never personally known a dragon caller, but I’ve heard that dragons and the like become very protective over their caller. I guess they sensed something was up. Can’t believe both Regnas and Solamites showed up.”

I shrugged coyly. “Possibly my fault. I found a little girl crying in the hydra forest. I tried to help, but apparently it was Rossi, the mean, scarred guard in little girl form. Great trick.”

“Best not to trust anyone at this point. They both know who you are and where to find you.”

“What do you think the Sorcerers will do?” I sat up with alarm. “Maybe they’ll call for my execution. I don’t want to face them alone.”

“The Sorcerers don’t mince words. If they had plans to execute you, they would have stated it plainly.”

I could feel the color leave my face. “You mean with just a stroke of the pen I could be sentenced to death? I don’t want to go there alone.”

“They’re allowing assistants, so you’ll have us behind you.” I knew exactly who he meant by us, and that made me feel instantly less freaked out. Although, there was still plenty to be freaked about. I’d met both princes today and neither of them struck me as the “that’s the boy I’m gonna marry” type.

“You know, I’ve always heard that when a woman is fated to a mate, the mate is overwhelmed with wanting that person. It borders on obsession, at least that was how I’ve read about it in books. I didn’t get that feeling from either prince. I mean, they did find out that I was the person chosen for the ‘object of all their desires’ position, so there’s probably a little disappointment there.”

“Whisper,” he said with a head shake, “if only you’d see yourself for who you really are. I have no idea what was going through their heads. Can’t stand either of them.”

“I think there’s been a mistake. I think they’ve got me fated to the wrong men. That’s what the Sorcerers will find. That they’ve got the wrong guys.” I looked over at him. “What do you think?”

His gaze felt like a caress as he looked at me. “Couldn’t agree more, Whisper.”

Twenty-One

Lyric looked back at Revel and Austri. Madigan had gone ahead of us. “The big guy is in a much better mood on this trip to the dragons. Remember how pouty and growly he was about us going to see the dragons the first time.” Lyric laughed. “Boy, you showed him on that round, didn’t ya? I can’t believe the lion’s bane was in your garden all this time. Just wild.”

We had a good laugh as we caught up to Madigan. The gray sky was spitting cold, salty rain, but the five of us were giddy about getting the lion’s bane to the dragons. “Hey, Madi, thank you for cancelling your previous plans to go with us to the Sorcerers’ tribunal,” I said.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Her dark brown eyes glittered with emotion. “Just because we’re not on your shelf anymore, doesn’t mean I’m not still fiercely protective of you, Rafi.” Madigan rarely spoke from the heart, so her words landed deep in my chest.

Lyric put her arm around my shoulder. “That’s right. We’re all going to be there for support, and if there’s any trouble, we’ve got your back.”

“What do you think they’ll decide?” I asked them. “I mean, I know what I want them to decide.” That statement pulled both their gazes my direction. They knew I’d met both princes, but I hadn’t said much about the whole debacle in the Wilds. I didn’t want to ruin the elation on us returning with lion’s bane. “Neither, of course. Prince Granier is handsome to be sure⁠—”

“And Solamere is gorgeous,” Lyric blurted. Madigan glowered at her. “Not as lovely as Norvale,” she added quickly. “Unless you like rolling green pastures, crystal blue skies and tall houses with tons of windows,” she added with shrug.